‘I can’t believe my hubby is dead’
Cop shot on patrol in Soweto
The wife of a Soweto police constable who was shot and killed on Sunday is waiting to see her husband’s body to believe he is infact dead.
Thobja Motumo, 36, was allegedly killed by thugs who opened fire on him and his colleagues in White City on Sunday afternoon.
He is survived by his wife, Mamere, 27, and two children aged 4 and 13.
“I do not believe that he is dead. I feel like he can come home. I cry about it when I am alone but I do not believe that he is gone,” she said.
She last saw her husband, who was attached to the Protea North police station flying squad, when he left for work at about 7.30 am on Sunday.
“He dropped me off at work, kissed me goodbye and said he would fetch me after work.
“He wore his full uniform, including a bullet proof [vest]. He was happy and he spoke about going home [in Limpopo] next weekend,” she said.
Mamere said one of her husband’s colleagues had fetched her from work, where she is a clerk, at 2.30pm on Sunday.
“He told my supervisor that my child was sick and they needed me at home. On the way he told me that my husband was working far and had asked him to fetch me.
“I realised that there were four cars following us when I arrived home. They sat me down and told me that they did not bring good news. They said my husband had been shot and had died. I couldn’t cry, I just looked at them. I asked to see him and they refused. They said I could see him today [Monday] but I still have to wait until tomorrow because today is a holiday,” she said.
Mamere said they had just moved into a bond house two years ago. “I do not know what I will do without him. He was my pillar. We have been together for 10 years and had been married for three years. He loved me very much and I was sure of it. I loved him too,” she said.
She said her husband was a dedicated police officer who loved his job.
“He had a stomach ache that day but he still went to work. He was a loving person. We had planned to throw a birthday party for our daughter next year. I do not know how I will move on without him.”
Motumo’s uncle Pulana said the family was shattered by his death.
“He was still young. We expected a lot from him. We had a lot of plans this weekend and now everything has stopped,” he said.
Pulana appealed to people with information to help police find Motumo’s killers.
“We are happy that the police minister said he was on their trail. Let it be so. We are sick and tired of these killings. We want them behind bars,” he said.
Motumo will be buried in Matseke village in Bohlokwa, Limpopo, on Saturday.
Gauteng police spokesman Captain Kay Makhubele said Motumo and two colleagues were on a routine patrol when they saw a suspicious vehicle and followed it until Elias Motswaledi Road, where the occupants opened fire at the police.
“A 14-year-old passerby was also shot and rushed to hospital,” Makhubele said.